Chief justice names 3-judge panel to consider Sciortino suspension

COLUMBUS

Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor has appointed a special three-judge commission to consider the suspension of Mahoning County Auditor Michael V. Sciortino, who has been charged with felonies in the Oakhill Renaissance Place criminal case in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

The three retired judges the chief justice named this morning to the panel are Thomas J. O’Grady of the 2nd District Court of Appeals, David C. Faulkner of Hardin County Common Pleas Court and Timothy S. Hogan of Hamilton County Common Pleas Court.

The commission must made a preliminary determination whether Sciortino should be suspended from office within 14 days.

Ohio Atty. Gen. Mike DeWine asked the state’s top court on May 29 to commence the suspension proceedings against Sciortino.

Sciortino is charged with 16 felonies, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, conspiracy, bribery, tampering with records, perjury and money laundering.

The Oakhill indictment contends Sciortino, former Mahoning County commissioner John A. McNally and now Youngstown mayor, and Atty. Martin Yavorcik, an unsuccessful candidate for county prosecutor in 2008, and others were part of a criminal enterprise to impede the move of the county’s Department of Job and Family Services from rented quarters at the Cafaro Co.-owned Garland Plaza to Oakhill Renaissance Place.

Oakhill is the former Forum Health Southside Medical Center, which the county bought in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in 2006 and to which JFS moved in 2007.